Six persons drowned in Western Visayas on St. John the Baptist Day on Saturday, June 24, the Philippine Coast Guard reported on Sunday.
There were two fatalities in Iloilo, and one each in Negros Occidental, Aklan , Capiz and Guimaras, Commander Jansen Benjamin, Coast Guard District Western Visayas public information officer, said.
The victim from Negros Occidental was Joseph Ragasa, 28, of Hacienda Teresa, Brgy Alicante, E B Magalona, who drowned in the Malogo River.
Ragasa was at a drinking session with friends in celebration of the St. John the Baptist Day and was last seen alive at 1 p.m. swimming in the Malogo River in EB Magalona.
His friends searched for him and sought the help of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office personnel.
His body was found floating about 20 meters away from the area where he was last seen at about 4:35 p.m., Saturday.
In Iloilo Rolando Arias Tañada, 65 , drowned in the waters of Brgy Namocon, Tigbauan, and Freddie Divinagracia, 30, in Brgy Pantalan, Anilao, the Coast Guard reported.
The other victims drowned in the following areas: Matilde Delfin, 57, in Brgy Ochando and Brgy Cawayan, New Washington, Aklan; Joemar Ocayo, 36, in Brgy Binaobawan, Pilar in Capiz; and Jomar Soriano, 40, in Sitio Talisay, Poblacion, Nueva Valencia, Guimaras, the Coast Guard added.*